The mortgage is 24000 and the rest goes into bills and other things.

I would listen to the numerous amounts of podcasts that discuss this in great detail.

Hi BP, We just got a letter for one of our rental properties (it's quickly becoming a problem property for me,) and it is a "30 day notice of an intent to file a Municipal Lien" for an $8000.00 past due utility bill accumulated by the previous owner over a year before we purchased the property.   

From someone who started REI when working as an associate in BigLaw billing huge hours:(1) Weekends(2) Get up 1-2 hours earlier work day mornings 

The water bill etc.

If you didn't provide the tenants a sheet with itemized charges at the beginning of the lease, then you should hire it out and bill the tenants back. 

Wondering what some of the water bills at your properties are or have been recently ?

The husband is telling me they got behind on other bills and they are struggling but he will have the rent to me this week.

This same question has been asked and answered here on BP numerous times.

People thought they would need it, so they filed for it, but ended up not needing it, so they paid their bills.